The Other Oslo: K.O. Dahl’s Frølich and Gunnarstranda Novels

Kjell Ola Dahl has been called the Henning Mankell of Norway. The author of eleven highly acclaimed police procedurals, most of which feature Oslo detectives Frank Frølich and Chief Inspector Gunnarstranda, Dahl was introduced to English-speaking readers with his 2007 novel, The Fourth Man (originally published in Norwegian in 2005). Since then other books in the series have been published, including The Man in the Window in 2008, and The Last Fix, 2009, which won Norway’s prestigious Riverton-prisen for Best Norwegian Crime Novel of the Year, and was nominated for a raft of other literary awards.

Known for his psychological insights and questioning of modern society, Dahl writes tight police procedurals with more than a touch of wry humor injected. His character Gunnarstranda has reached something of an iconic status in Norway with his comb-over and grumpy attitude. Equally important in the novels is the setting. Oslo, Norway, is Dahl’s domain, and he brings to the city an insider’s keen eye for detail and nuance.

Kjell, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with Scene of the Crime about your work and the importance of place in it.

First, could you describe your connection to Oslo.

My family moved to Oslo when I was a kid. We moved in to a small flat on the eastside. After a couple of years we moved further west. When I was younger I loved to explore the city, and found myself being one that knew neighborhoods and parts of the city my friends didn’t know. Later, when I was a student I worked as a cab driver, mostly working night shifts. Today I do not live inside Oslo, I live in the countryside, some sixty miles away (90 kilometers). My mother still lives in Oslo, my publisher is there and most of my friends live in Oslo. I visit Oslo quite often. Still I love driving, bicycling or walking around the city exploring new sites when I do research.

What things about Oslo make it unique and a good physical setting in your books?

Many things actually. The geography is quite unique. The city is surrounded by hills except on the south side, where the harbor leads out the Oslo fjord. The hills are areas for hiking. There is a combination of urban life and huge surroundings that is a perfect location for more “gothic” environments. One other thing about the city is that it is continually in a process of change. Areas which a few years ago were industry now have become neighborhoods where people live their daily life. The seaside is always changing too. In Oslo there are clearly different districts which give good locations. When I invent a new character I am always trying to give him or her a biography and the place they live is always important.

Did you consciously set out to Oslo as a “character” in your books, or did this grow naturally out of the initial story or stories?

I think this grew naturally out of the stories. I remember when I wrote the first book in this series, I worked almost the same way as I do now. I walked around until I found the exact spots – where the different character lived, where the killing took place etc. But – I wasn’t that conscious about how important the location was. In my latest book I discovered I had taken the process a bit further. I was continually asking myself: In what location could this incident take place, where should it take place? I was eager to make the choice of location reflect parts of conflicts in the specific scenes.

Writing a series means that I am partly bound up to the characters’ universe. My heroes (or anti-heroes) are police officers doing their job in Oslo. If I want some of the action to take place in other locations I have to motivate that move.

How does Detective Chief Inspector Gunnarstranda interact with his surroundings? Is he a native, a blow-in, a reluctant or enthusiastic inhabitant, cynical about it, a booster? And conversely, how does the setting affect your protagonist?

My protagonist grew up in Oslo, in the old eastside – a district called Grünerløkka. Then this district was working class, poor people living there, no WC, poor heating etc. Today this district is very posh, all the westside youngsters are living their posh lives here, eating out etc. This fact is having an impact on him. He is very aware of how the city influences his life, but he is a very cynical character. He knows that his life is a moment in time.

What kind of local reaction has there been to your works, beyond the fact that the books are a huge success in Norway.

I often get feedback from readers on this subject. People like to try to catch me. They can point out e.g. I have that view from my apartment and that tree isn’t there etc. Some time reviewers have reflected on locations. Also, being a Norwegian writing crime fiction, a lot of reviewers reflect on the success of nordic crime fiction in general.

Of the novels you have set in Oslo, do you have a favorite book or scene that focuses on the place?

In my latest book, the main theme is about friendship. My protagonist and his friend have a troublesome past and his friend is involved in a case. When these two guys finally decide to make up, they literally move into the Oslo underground – the sewer system.

Who are your favorite writers, and do you feel that other writers influenced you in your use of the spirit of place in your novels?

I find it very difficult to list favorite writers. I can go wild about books when they are good. These days I am reading the English writer R.D Winfield, who died some years ago, and who wrote brilliant books. He is very good with locations, I also think the Spanish author Montalban is good with locations and of course Chandler and Ellroy.

What’s next for your Gunnarstranda and Frølich?

The harbor of Oslo, deep waters.

Thanks so much, Kjell, for your comments, and please keep the Nordic crime invasion going on these shores.

For you readers of Norwegian and anyone interested, visit K.O. Dahl’s homepage.

Nah, Susie, you can’t scare a mystery writer with mere praise! I am sure Kjell will be responding soon–there is a bit of a time difference.
Glad you liked the interview. Spread the word with your forum.

TG-
I know–sort of annoying how good the Nordics are–more power to them. Hey, I’m half Norwegian–I am claiming heritage here. There is a certain tone that resonates in much of the writing and I cannot really put my writing finger on it, or I just might…
Also, good idea re the working methods. I have been concentrating so much on the use of location in these interviews to the exclusion of other great topics for some really interesting writers.
And please borrow away, Thriller Guy. Other readers take notice–Thriller Guy has a great blog (The Thriller Guy) with tons of interviews and discussions on writing and the writing life. Take a visit.
Thanks for the comment, Mr. TG.

J. Sydney Jones

J. Sydney Jones is the author of the acclaimed "Viennese Mystery" series, set in Vienna 1900. Novels include THE EMPTY MIRROR, REQUIEM IN VIENNA, THE SILENCE, THE KEEPER OF HANDS, and A MATTER OF BREEDING.
“What Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did for Victorian London and Caleb Carr did for old New York, J. Sydney Jones does for historic Vienna.”
-Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author

Visit him at his Web site: www.jsydneyjones.com

The Third Place

A MATTER OF BREEDING

The Keeper of Hands

The Silence

Requiem in Vienna

The Empty Mirror

Honors/Awards

Named one of the 50 Best Blogs for Crime & Mystery Book Lovers (courtreporter.net)
Named to the 2010 Top 45 Mystery Blogs